To the human eye, the Glimmer was just heat haze rising off the pavement. To Rufus, it was a portal. The Midnight Call

"You’re late, Rufus," Pip squeaked, adjusting his tiny aviator goggles. "The Shadow Cats have already reached the Crystal Kennel." The Great Showdown Rufus didn't need gadgets. He had the "Zoomies."

At the Crystal Kennel, a dozen feline shadows hissed, their eyes glowing like embers. They circled the Silver Bone, which sat atop a pedestal of pure light. Rufus took a deep breath, lowered his front paws, and began the Ancient Spiral.

He trotted over to his bowl, nudged Arthur’s leg affectionately, and tucked into his kibble. The world was safe, the slippers were secure, and as far as Arthur knew, his dog had just been outside for a quick bathroom break.

The portal snapped shut just as Arthur called out, "Rufus! Dinner time!"

He tracked the scent—a mix of tuna and malice—to the Whispering Woods. Trees made of glass sang songs of old kibble as he passed. There, he met his contact: a hover-hamster named Pip.

But as Rufus drifted off to sleep that night, his paws twitched. He wasn't dreaming of squirrels; he was dreaming of the stars.

He ran so fast he became a blur of brown fur and determination. The centrifugal force kicked up a cloud of stardust, dizzying the Shadow Cats. With a leap that defied gravity, Rufus snatched the Silver Bone in his jaws. The metal felt cool and hummed with a frequency that made his tail wag uncontrollably. Home for Dinner